The Post-SUV Family Car

Like many drivers, Robert Jenkins bought a sport-utility vehicle several years ago when gas was cheap and sales of such trucks were booming. But the beginning of the end for his Dodge Durango came the first time it cost him $70 to fill the tank.

"We started looking for something with better fuel economy, but we still needed room because we have three kids," says the 45-year-old real-estate appraiser in East Brunswick, N.J. About two months ago, he traded in the Dodge for a Toyota Sienna. The minivan has been...